I’ve been working on these dolls as a group. I love how the dolls seem to come to life when their body parts are assembled. Adding the arms and legs do a lot, but the hair starts to really give them a personality. I’ve been playing with the wigs on different heads. These 5 dolls are made from 3 different patterns but even 2 dolls from the same pattern will not be able to fit the same wig perfectly. There is too much variation due to stuffing, I guess.
I will be sending 2 dolls to the Kansas City Doll Fair for the competition. I have to get to work and make doll stands for the ones I’ll be sending. I am thinking it will be Tallulah and Autumn. As far as I can figure out, the dolls really have to be on a stand and you can’t just have a plain stand… it has to add to the whole look. So I better get to work on that!
I am in a real dilemma about the Kansas City Doll Fair. I would love to go and see it. The only similar type event I’ve been to was WOW/04, which I didn’t particularly love, so I’d like to experience a different one. I would love to see the doll competition. They get loads of dolls entered- 194 last year. Loads of pictures here. I’d like to see the vendors, especially people who go to show/sell their dolls. Also, I could get a face to face critique from a member of ODACA. I am not interested in taking any of the workshops though. My biggest hesitation is that I don’t know anyone to go with or to meet up with. I am not the kind of person who mingles well, who is outgoing with strangers or is very comfortable traveling alone. I could see myself going and coming home again, having made no connections, having talked to no one about the things that interest me, or seeing what I’d like to see in Kansas City. I’m just not good at this part of life. So, I’m waffling.
The doll show sounds cool…if you go, I’ll meet you there. I live in Lawrence Kansas, just an hour away. The Plaza is fun to see…great shopping and restaurants…maybe you could bring a friend or daughter with you. The Kansas City Art Institute is close to the Plaza…lots to do and see….and I agree, it’s no fun to go alone.
Your blog is so good!!!!!
your dolls are so incredible and inspiring! I used to make cloth dolls aaaggggeees ago, and now I feel inspired to get drawing doll shapes and cutting calico….thanks:)
The faces on your dolls are incredible. Each one has such a unique expression in its eyes! You should go to the show, and get whatever you can out of going! I think that once you have gone, and know exactly what to expect, it would be a snap the next time. I know what you mean about going alone. I don’t like to head out by myself either, but I have always come away from classes, shows, events with some new knowledge, even when I didn’t talk with very many people. Maybe you could work up to running a workshop on making dolls like yours sometime, if you haven’t already done so. (I’m a relative newcomer.) You obviously have an incredible amount of knowledge and talent!
OH MAN! these are awesome, i love the one on the left. This is also my favorite stage actually. I like them bald without clothes, they just look so strange and interesting that way. They also seem to be more like fine art than craft. Have you thought of entering into art shows? you should, this kind of stuff is pretty hip right now.
Check out the work of Tony Oursler. He makes dolls and projects his face that he has video taped on to them. When you see them in person the tape is playing so they’re looking around and talking to you and each other. so creepy but amazing.
As some others have mentioned I’ve been wanting to make dolls forever, thanks for the inspiration. I think I just might start today.
Annie
your dolls are fantastic!